Clarinet



June 27, 1939. J w HAYNES 2,164,110

CLARINET Filed Feb. 9, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l fizz Wh g 9716's,

ATTORNEYS,

June 27, 1939. w HAYNES 2,164,110

' CLARINET Filed Feb. 9, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W! iii Patented June 27, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLARINET John William Haynes, Susanville, Calif. Application February 9, 1937, Serial No. 124,910

5 Claims. (Cl. 84-382) The invention relates to clarinets and more especially to a fingering key and ring arrangement for clarinets.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an arrangement of this character, wherein the disposition of the keys is such as to simplify some of the most difiicult passages in music as played upon a musical instrument of this type, as, for example, such passages where the notes C sharp on the first ledger line, E flat on the bottom or the first line of the staff, G sharp in the first space above the staff and B flat in the second space above the staff are involved. 7

Another object of the invention is the provision of an arrangement of this character, wherein the G sharp and B fiat keys can be more easily played and under such arrangement and are in tune.

A further object of theinvention is the provision of an arrangement of this character, which is simple in its make-up, novel in kind, thorough ly effective and efficient in the operation of the instrument, minimizes practice and avoids difficult manipulation in the playing of said instrument, enabling the execution of most difficult passages in music, and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is. a fragmentary plan view of a clarinet showing the key arrangement constructed in accordance with the invention associated therewith.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 taken at substantially right angles thereto.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken approximately on the line 4-8 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the rings in the arrangement. I

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the keys or pads in the arrangement.

all trills are very easily manipulated Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the keys or pads in the arrangement.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a pedal employed in the arrangement.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a rocker em- 5 ployed in the arrangement.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary top plan View of a modified form of arrangement.

Figure 12 is a- View similar to Figure 11 showing a still further modification. 10

Figure 13 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a modification of a joint connection between certain of the rocking rods of the arrangement.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in 15' the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, I0 designates generally a portion of the main body of a clarinet which has formed therein the holes II,

I2, I3, I4 and I5, respectively, as is common in 20 the Boehm system, while located at these holes are the finger rings I6 and at the hole I I the ring I6 controls a pad I! which is normally raised from a hole therebelow and is also controllable through conventional articulated or split leverage I8 from an auxiliary thumb ring I9 at a hole 20 in the main body I0, this being usual in the said Boehm system. The ring I6 and the pad I1, through an' arm extension 2I of each, rocking a common rod 22, will have a unity, the rod 22 30 being pivotally supported upon posts 23 fixed in the body I0. I

The ring It at the hole I2, through an arm extension 24 of a rocking rod 25, has individual swinging movement, while the rings I6 at the 3 holes I3, I4 and I5, through arm extensions 26 of a rocking rod 21, have simultaneous swinging movement, the arms being common to the said rod 27 which is pivoted in posts 28 on the body If); and this rod 21, through an arm 29, controls a pad 38' for the closing thereof, such pad being susceptible of closing movement through manipulation of any of the rings I6 carried by said rods 27 and such rings with the pad 39 are usual in the Boehm system.

The rocking rod 25 is pivotally supported in posts 3| and said rods 22, 25 and 21 are tensioned by spring members 33, as is usual, thus holding the pads ll and'3Il in an open position with the rings I6 at the holes II, I2, I3, I4 and I5 raised, so that by depressing the respective rings the pads will move to closing position, this being also true with respect to the ring I9 which, through the aim extension 34 of a rocking rod 35 pivoted in the posts 365, is swingingly sup ported.

A pad 3'? is arranged at an opening or hole in the main body H) which is common in the Boehm clarinets, but in accordance with the present invention this pad, through an arm extension 38, is swingingly supported on a rocking rod 39 which is pivotally aligned with the rocking rod 25 and such arm extension is formed with lateral ears it, one being engaged by a set screw A l adjustably fitting an arm 42 on a rocking rod 33 pivoted in alignment with the rod 22. This rocking rod 43 carries a finger ring 4 1 encircling or disposed about a pad 45, the latter through the arm extension 56 being swingingly supported by the rod 25 so that the said ring 4G and the pad 45 move independently of each other. As stated, the pad 45 is connected to therod 25 and is operated by the ring it at the hole 52 while through such operation the pad 37 is also closed by an overhanging arm 41 on the rod 25. This pad d5 can be and is operated by the second finger of the left hand along with the ring 44. The pad 45 is a new element as far as the present invention is concerned but is arranged at an opening or hole in the main body ill which is common in the Boehm clarinets and usually covered only directly by the middle finger of the left hand. The other ear it of the arm extension 38 is engaged by a set screw 26 adjustably carried in the overhanging arm 47 on the rod 25. The rod $3 is tensioned by the spring 48 similarly to the tensioning of the previously mentioned rods and such spring'raises the ring i iwith respect to the body iii, the pad 615 also being raised through the spring 33 tensioning the rod 25 and thus being in a normal open position. The rod 39 is tensioned by a spring 59 and thus the pad 31 will be normally held open.

The rod 43 through an arm extension 5!] sup ports a pad 5| which controls or is disposed with respect to an opening known as the regular C sharp and G sharp hole, this pad through the spring 48 being held normally open.

The rod 43 has thereon the arm 52 provided with an off-set striker or wing 53 which overhangs an L-shaped lever extension 54 of the arm 29 on the rod 27 which carries the pad 30, so that when any of the rings l6 common to the holes, i3, M and iii are depressed the said pad 38 will be moved to closing position and simultaneously therewith the rod 43 will be turned, closing the pads 3? and 5!, respectively.

Arranged next to the rod 27 parallel therewith is a rocking rod 55 having the arm extension 56 carrying a pad 5? for a hole in the body iii and in alignment with this rocking rod 55 is a rocking rod 58, these rods being journaled in posts 59 and said rod 58 formed with a curved long arm 59 having at its outer end a pad 60 for a hole in the body if! of the clarinet and this pad being normally closed through the action of a spring 6i active upon the rod 56, These rods 55 and 58 are formed with finger levers 62 for manual control thereof.

The pad Eli, under the arrangement before set forth, is new and known as the closed B fiat key.

Thus through the arrangement just referred to and hereinbefore described as new the particular keys will enable convenient and easy fingering for difficult trills and those which are most difiicult to execute through the common or well known Boehm system and also other fingerings are possible that can not be carried forth by the system mentioned. The arm 59 is formed with a short branch 63 underlying the wing 53 so that when the rod 58 is rocked by pressing the finger lever 62 common thereto the wing 53 will be moved for the rocking of the rod 43 and simultaneous closing of the pads carried directly on the rod or controlled thereby.

In Figure 11 of the drawings there is shown a slight modification, wherein the rocking rod 64 which is similar to the rod 43 has formed therewith depressible extensions simulating keys 65, these being disposed at opposite sides of the arm 46 and such keys 65 are in substitute for the ring M. In Figure 12 of the drawings there is shown a further modification, wherein the keys 66 located at opposite sides of the arm 46 have the outwardly bowed or curved terminals 61 which in form present a mutilated finger ring.

In Figure 13 of the drawings there is shown a modification involving a pair of arms 58 and 69, respectively, these having the overlapped reversely extended terminals 10, the arm 68 being fixed to the rod 25 while the arm 69 is fixed to the rod 39 and control of the pad 31 is had thereby in substitution for one of the ears 40 on the arm extension 38 of said pad 37 and the arm 41 with the set screw 46.

In the playing of the clarinet through the arrangement before described the ring it common to the hole H for B and E tones is operated by the index or first finger on the left hand, the ring 4 5 and new pad 45 for the A and D tones being operated by the second finger on the left hand, while the ring it common to the hole l2 for the G and C tones is operated by the third finger on the left hand and the ring l6 common to the hole l3 for the F natural and B fiat tones is operated by the first finger on the right hand and the ring it common to the hole 14 for the E and A tones is operated by the second finger on the right hand while the ring l6 common to the hole 15 for the D and G tones is operated by the third finger on the right hand. The disposition of the ring 44 with its correlated pad Q5 and the pad 69 in the arrangement before described assures easy manipulation for the execution of trills in tune in the playing of the clarinet most difiicult for accomplishment under the Boehm system.

While the arrangement has been referred to in association with a clarinet, it is to be understood that such arrangement is adaptable for saxophones, flutes and the like instruments of the musical wind type.

The invention pertains primarily to the C sharp on the first ledger line below the staff, the E fiat on the bottom or first line of the staff, G sharp in the first space above the staff and B fiat in the second space above the staff and all in the treble clef.

The essential structural features in accordance with the present invention are particularly the new pad 45 for the A-D hole, which hole is that ordinarily provided in the Boehm clarinet and covered only directly by the middle finger of the left hand, together with the ring key M overhanging said pad 45 and the correlated leverage and operating connections for the operation and control of the other hereinbefore described pads and parts, and further including the normally closed new B fiat pad 6|], which latter is also for E flat intonation the same as the regular B fiat-E flat pad 31 of the instrument, but the particular mounting of said pad 6|! with its split overlapping leverage connection with the rod 43 effects the closing of the pads that are carried or directly controlled by said rod 43 when the pad 60 is raised, yet permitting the actuation of said rod 43 independently of said pad 60 as hereinbefore described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a keyed wind musical instrument, such as a clarinet or the like, the combination with the regular normally raised pad over the regular B flat-E flat hole, the normally raised pad over the regular G sharp-C sharp hole and the regular normally raised ring key above the G-C natural hole, of a normally raised new pad with a surrounding raised ring key covering the regular A-D hole, a normally closed new pad covering a new B fiat-E flat hole supplementary to the regular pad at the regular B fiat-E flat hole, and articulated and split lever elements connecting the respective mountings of the several pads and ring keys whereby the pads other than said new B flat-E fiat pad are actuatable independently of the latter by the fingers of the left hand but are actuated simultaneously with said new B fiat-E fiat pad upon the individual actuation of the latter by the fingers of the right hand.

2. In a keyed wind musical instrument, such as a clarinet or the like, the combination of the regular normally raised pad at the regular B fiat- E fiat hole, the regular normally raised ring key surrounding the regular G-C hole, and a normally raised new pad covering the regular A-D hole formerly covered only by the second finger of the left hand, the mounting of said new A-D pad including a rocking rod carrying the pad and provided with an overhanging arm and the mounting of said B fiat-E flat pad including a separate rocking rod having an extension arm carrying the pad, said extension arm having a lateral ear underlying the overhanging arm of the A-D pad mounting, the articulated and split leverage thus provided being such that the A-D pad and the B fiat-E flat pad are simultaneously moved to closing position when said ring key at the G-C hole is depressed.

3. In a keyed wind musical instrument, such as a clarinet or the like, a normally raised new pad covering the regular A-D hole formerly covered only by the second finger of the left hand and a normally raised ring key surrounding said A-D pad, in combination with the regular normally raised pad over the regular G sharp- C sharp hole and the normally raised pad over the regular B fiat-E flat hole, the mounting of said B flat-E flat pad being conventional as to the inclusion of a rocking rod, except that the rod is provided with a pad-carrying extension arm having a lateral ear, and the mounting of said A-D ring including a separate rocking rod having an arm overhanging the ear on said extension arm carrying said B flat-E fiat pad, thereby providing an articulated and split leverage connection so that the G sharp-C sharp pad and the B fiat-E fiat pad are simultaneously moved to closing position when the A-D ring key is depressed.

4. In a keyed wind musical instrument, such as a clarinet or the like, the combination with the normally raised pad over the regular B fiat- E flat hole and the normally raised pad over the regular G sharp-C sharp hole, of a normally raised ring key surrounding a normally raised new pad covering the regular A-D hole formerly covered only by the second finger of the left hand, articulated and split lever connections between the mountings of the regular B fiat-E fiat and G sharp-C sharp pads whereby the B fiat- E flat pad is closable independently of the G sharp-C sharp pad but is moved to closing position simultaneously by and with the movement of the G sharp-C sharp pad to its closing position, said two pads being correlated to said ring key at the A-D hole whereby their simultaneous closing movement is eifected by depression of said ring key, said pads being also correlated to the three regular, jointly mounted and simultaneously operable, normally raised ring keys at the F-B flat, E-A and D-G holes of the instrument, the joint mounting of said three ring keys including the usual common rocking rod, an articulated and split leverage connection between said common rocking rod and the mounting of the G sharp-C sharp pad whereby the G sharp- C sharp pad the B fiat-E flat pad are simultaneously moved to closing position when any of said three jointly mounted ring keys are depressed, and whereby, also, the A-D ring key is operable to move said two pads to closing position independently of the actuation of said three jointly mounted ring keys.

5. In a keyed wind musical instrument, such as a clarinet or the like, with the correlated pad and ring key structural arrangement and operation as set forth in claim 4, and further comprising in combination therewith, a normally closed new pad covering a new B flat-E fiat hole supplementary to the regular pad at the regular B fiat-E flat hole, the mounting of said new B flat-E fiat pad including a rocking rod located adjacent the common rocking rod of the joint mounting of the ring keys at the F-B fiat, E-A and D-G holes and having an extension arm carrying said new pad, a lever key on said rocking rod of the new pad mounting for effecting the opening movement of the pad, said key being located between two of said jointly mounted ring keys, and an articulated and split leverage connection between the rocking rod of said new B flat-E flat pad mounting and the mounting of the G sharp-C sharp pad whereby said G sharp-C sharp pad and the regular B fiat-E flat pad are simultaneously moved to closing position by the depression of said lever key in efiecting the opening movement of said normally closed new B flat-E flat pad.

JOHN WILLIAM HAYNES. 

